Drawing the golden ticket gave an Okotokian the hockey experience of a lifetime.
Okotoks’ Luke Vink, 9, was one of just 160 children from across the globe selected to attend the Sidney Crosby Hockey School from July 10-14 in Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia – the hometown of the three-time Stanley Cup champion.
“It was unbelievable to get to see him skate with his favourite player,” said Renee Vink, Luke’s mother. “It’s a lottery pick and it is once in a lifetime because you can’t go again, once you go that’s it. I thought I’ll just register him this year and see what happens thinking he’s not going to get in.
“I got the email and said, we’ve got to get tickets, we’re going to Halifax.”
Luke was only one of two Albertans at the camp which attracted over ten- thousand applicants.
The application involved a letter sent to Crosby detailing his passion for the game and adulation for Sid the Kid. From there it was a lottery system to earn entry.
Vink had a couple opportunities to speak with the Penguins captain over the course of the week, stating he was both excited and overwhelmed to meet his hockey hero.
“He has good sportsmanship,” Luke said of Crosby. “And when he doesn’t score he doesn’t get all crazy.”
“What did you say to him the first time you saw him?,” Renee said. “You said hey Sid the Kid and got a fist bump and a hug.”
Later in the week Vink queried Sid about the game’s next generational star, Connor McDavid, with the Nova Scotian remarking on the Edmonton Oilers captain’s exceptional speed.
Luke ended the week with a three-on-three game against Sid followed by a brief one-on-one with Crosby in the dressing room.
“A big highlight was he met so many good friends,” Renee said. “They all switched contacts, that was pretty cool.”
The five-day camp featured on ice drills, ball hockey, swimming, track and field, and guest speaking sessions on nutrition.
“Every day was different,” Luke said. “The drills seemed really easy, but they helped us get better. There was a lot of backwards skating, pivoting and a lot of shooting.”
Crosby— weeks removed from winning his third Stanley Cup and second straight Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP — wasn’t on a globetrotting escapade celebrating his many accomplishments.
No, the proud Maritimer went back to his roots for the third annual camp with his family on board on the rink he grew up on.
“It was amazing the volunteer work that goes into this camp,” Renee said. “It was all just Sidney’s closest friends and family. They just put so much time and work into it and made it so enjoyable for the kids. They were so personable, so approachable.”
